E-Mu Systems Announces Proteus 2000 Sound Authoring System and Emulator 4 Ultra Sound Library Support

Extensive New Sound Support Initiatives For The Proteus 2000 And E4 Ultra Line Of Samplers

January 28, 1999 -- E-MU SYSTEMS announces extensive new sound support initiatives for the Proteus 2000 and Emulator® 4 Ultra line of samplers. The Proteus® 2000 Sound Authoring System (SAS) allows custom ROM sets to be developed for the Proteus 2000 sound module. The E4 Ultra Definitive Series of CD-ROMs offers cutting-edge sounds for use with Emulator 4 samplers. The Definitive Series CD-ROMs have an estimated price of US$149 per CD and will ship Q2, 1999.

Proteus 2000 Sound Authoring System (SAS)
With 4 ROM/Flash expansion slots capable of addressing up to 128MB of sample data, the Proteus® 2000 is the ultimate expandable sound module. In order to maximize the potential of these slots, E-MU SYSTEMS is developing a complete set of custom ROM expansion boards to be released throughout 1999, including the following titles: Orchestra, Ultra Piano, Millennium Synthesizers, and Vintage Keyboards. For the first time, the Sound ROM/Sound Flash architecture will also be opened to third-party sound developers and all users of the new Ultra series of samplers.

The Proteus 2000 authoring system is being developed in three key phases. Phase one involves providing key developers with our in-house Mac and PC tools. Phase two will give all Emulator Operating Systems (EOS) Ultra users the capability of using their Ultra to author instruments on low-cost custom Flash memory boards, which can then be installed in a Proteus 2000. Phase three will be the development of a slick, GUI set of PC-based software tools which focus on advanced issues such as preset translation, SoundFont® integration, and custom, web-downloadable sound sets.

In order to assist E-MUs worldwide network of third-party developers, a developer kit and authoring guide are available from E-MU Sound Central (ESC), E-MU's in-house sound development group. Major sound developers, such as Q-Up Arts and Sweetwater, are eagerly supporting the authoring initiative, a first in the sound module market.

Ultra CD-ROM Library
E-MU is releasing a new set of sound CD-ROMs that take advantage of the the E4 Ultra line. With the extended patch cord matrix available in the Ultra sampler line, H-chip high-order filters, and the upgrade path to cutting-edge DSP (with the forthcoming R-FX board), the latest range of E-MU samplers offers sound developers the ultimate machine.

"The introduction of a new and extremely powerful hardware platform for EOS gives us the opportunity to further modernize and enhance our extensive CD-ROM Sound library," says Mike Barnes, product marketing manager. "'With the development of the Definitive CD-ROM Series we are redefining what is possible with modem sound design tools. This will be a noexpense-spared approach to getting the ultimate, most authentic, single instrument sounds onto the E4."

The Definitive Series will include 5 CD-ROM titles